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Mindfulness for Workplace Happiness
The pandemic has had a big effect on employee wellbeing, and mental health is an increasingly important topic in most organizations. In a recent study, 30% of Gen Z workers reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression, and half of the respondents said they want mental health training. You can help increase your employees’ wellbeing with mindfulness online training. Training has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, and introducing your team to mindfulness offers them a better employee experience. Not to mention mindfulness and productivity go hand in hand. So what is mindfulness, and how can you help your employees be more mindful? Read on.
What is Mindfulness?
Let’s start with a definition. Mindfulness means being fully present in the moment without distractions that add stress or pressure. Mindfulness isn’t just meditating–though that can be a helpful part of it. It’s about being aware of what’s happening around you and within you. It means giving attention to what you’re doing while you’re doing it and being aware of your mental and emotional condition. Focusing on thoughts and feelings in addition to work tasks and deadlines allows people to manage emotions and avoid burnout and stress.
Whether your teams work remotely or not, mindfulness online training is a simple way to help employees stay calm throughout their day and boost their productivity.
Benefits of Mindfulness Training
Savvy companies recognize the advantages of supporting their employees’ mental health. Even large enterprises like LinkedIn, Target, Google, and Intel are turning to mindfulness interventions and training. Consider the following ways access to mindfulness content can improve your workplace:
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Including mindfulness content in your employee training programs can boost their effectiveness. Mindfulness online training courses are accessible whenever and wherever is most useful. And that makes it more likely employees will consume and benefit from the content.
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Training your teams in mindfulness doesn’t have to take a massive effort and outside expertise. There are simple things you can help employees do on their own that will promote well-being and boost productivity. So let’s take a look at some helpful activities you can include in your corporate mindfulness training.
Activities for Corporate Mindfulness Training
1. Deep Breathing
Deep breathing, or “belly breathing,” is at the very heart of mindfulness meditation. It’s a physical practice that has a direct impact on the mental and emotional state. According to Maria Marinaki, psychologist and content writer at ethicallybee.com, deep breathing can help employees relax their nervous system and develop laser-sharp focus. Have employees put one hand on their belly and feel it rise and fall while they breathe deeply to relax their nervous system. Marinaki also recommends the following exercise to help develop laser-sharp focus: “Sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor. Place your hands on your lap, palms facing up. Take a deep breath in and out. As you breathe in, imagine your breath going up your spine and filling your body with energy. As you breathe out, imagine your breath going down your spine and out through the soles of your feet. Repeat this exercise for several minutes, focusing on your breath and the sensations in your body.”
2. Physical Release
Being mindful of the physical strain you carry in your body allows you to release it. Encourage people to take moments throughout the day to step away from their desks or just sit back and notice where they’re feeling tension. If, for instance, they feel tension in their shoulders or neck, they can take a minute to release those muscles and stretch them. Teach them to focus on the physical sensations and keep their mind from wandering back to work tasks during this break. This physical release will help employees come back to work more relaxed and ready for more effective work.
3. Mindful Listening
Communication is a big source of stress at work, and listening is a big part of successful communication. Teaching mindful listening will promote effective communication and foster a positive work environment. People are often so focused on getting their own point across that they don’t fully hear what others are saying. Teach people exercises to filter distractions and actively listen during a conversation. For instance, encourage them to face the other person while they talk, note body language that may express strong emotions, focus on the person’s words and process them before passing judgment or making decisions about how they’ll respond, listen for ideas that get repeated, and ask questions to clarify understanding. Active listening leads to more meaningful communication and helps teams work together more efficiently.
4. Stress Reduction
Stress can lead to anxiety and tension that overwhelm employees. The strain affects not only their productivity but also their mental and physical health. Give your teams a balanced and positive work experience by offering mindfulness-based stress reduction training. Look for a mindfulness online training course that teaches people to recognize their stress triggers, introduces relaxation techniques, and describes techniques for managing pressure. Share strategies for coping with pressures they face so they can stay healthy and productive at work.
5. Mindfulness Exercises throughout the Day
Mindfulness exercises are a great way to train your brain to focus and be aware. Reconnecting to the present and being aware of senses and feelings trains employees’ brains to focus and reset strong emotions. But taking thirty minutes out of the day to meditate isn’t feasible for everyone. However, even spending a minute connecting with the present can boost mindfulness. Offer brief guided meditations for teams during the day. Or, look for small exercises to share with your team that will bring mindfulness to their work throughout the day. These can include short breathing exercises, brief meditations, or quick mindfulness check-ins like this two-minute practice from ethicallybee.com.
6. Practicing Gratitude
Recognizing the good things in a situation can provide perspective and decrease stress. Help people maintain a positive mental state by teaching and modeling gratitude. Simple strategies for practicing gratitude include observing what’s around you and how it improves your life. Offer tips for doing this like: taking a moment each day to think of three things you’re grateful for, writing a thank you note to a colleague or expressing gratitude during team meetings, and keeping a gratitude journal where you write down positive experiences and things you’re thankful for. As people incorporate these practices, they’ll gain a more helpful outlook that will improve both their work and their home lives.
Conclusion
Introducing mindfulness at work isn’t just about boosting productivity. It’s also a way of demonstrating that you value employee well-being and your team’s work experience. That understanding is the foundation for a healthy and relaxing work culture. And that means more engaged, committed employees. A mindful environment is the key to workplace happiness and company growth.
